They're In Love, These Two
Jeffrey L. Smalldon | 01/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For about a week now -- with minimal success -- I've been trying to summon the will needed to remove the new Steve Almaas/Ali Smith recording You Showed Me from my car stereo so that I can familiarize myself with recent releases from the likes of Carly Simon, Tom Waits, and Richard X. Heymann. Those other artists -- all brilliant -- have had to wait. There are certain CD's that pay new dividends each time you listen to them. You Showed Me is one of those.
Most of the songs are Almaas compositions. They're consistently good -- tuneful and chock full of wry, spot-on observations about people, love, and politics, invariably rendered with the lightest of touches and a sizeable dollop of good humor. Then there are the cover tunes, for example the little-known Brian Wilson gem "The Lonely Sea," sung by Smith in a voice that's at once dreamy, haunting, and sad; a rollicking pop-hoedown version -- really! -- of one of James Joyce's poems from Chamber Music; and of course the Clark/McGuinn nugget "You Showed Me," which starts with a swooning, sinewy guitar intro and then soars on the magnificent harmonies of sweethearts Almaas and Smith, who sing the words -- "Oh, whoa-ooh-whoa, it's true/We're in love, we two" -- like real-life lovers who mean it(no coincidence that in the liner notes Almaas writes of the tune, "It's a good harmony song and I can relate to the lyric").
This is a CD made up of excellent songs -- but for me the extraordinary vocals are what make it one of the best pop recordings of the past year. If you dig the organic sound of vocal harmonizers like the Everlys, Gary Louris and Mark Olson, Buddy/Julie Miller, and the Delevantes, you'll love the Almaas/Smith sound. File this one alongside their wonderful 2002 recording and Almaas's classic Kingo a Wild One. Highly recommended!!
"
An Amazing Album!
Samue A. Hunt | New York | 01/08/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This record is gorgeous, each song is memorable and a total jam. Ali and Steve's music is like a breath of fresh air. I love this record and will be listening to it all year. One of the very best! Ali's voice on The Lonely Sea will have you weeping and smiling and soaring!"